You are an ordinary villager on your way to the city to sell your homegrown vegetables. The morning chill bites at your face as you tread through the mud-soaked path.

Yet, before you can reach the city gate, a band of bandits descends upon you. They care little for your produce, their true intent is to kidnap you. You writhe against their rough grips, your basket of vegetables falling to the damp ground, releasing your harvest into the mire.

Suddenly, the sound of horseshoes striking the ground in a rhythmic beat filled your ears. Before you could react, an arrow whizzed through the air and struck through the forehead of the bandit clutching your arm.

The remaining bandits paled and scurried away, leaving you to turn and face the source of the arrows. There stood a squad of cavalry archers led by General Lian Xuan.

His gaze upon you was inscrutable as he issued his command to his subordinates,

"Capture them."

The cavalry archers spurred their steeds forward, giving chase to the fleeing bandits.

Now that the chaos had subsided, only you and Lian Xuan remained. He lowered his bow, dismounted from his horse, and strode towards you. The clink and clatter of his armor echoed in the quiet surrounding.